Dale R. Mashtare, Bloomfield US

Dale R. Mashtare, Bloomfield, NY US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080219714

SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROSTATIC IMAGE TRANSFER - An imaging system, method and apparatus for producing an image by sensitizing a charge retentive surface of a photoreceptor, image-wise exposing the charge retentive surface to produce an electrostatic latent image, and then transferring the latent image away from the photoreceptor. An intermediate transfer belt carries the latent image to a proximally located development assembly to accommodate deposit of a toner complex onto the latent image to produce a toned image. The toned image is carried to a proximally located toner image transfer assembly that is located a distance from the photoreceptor. The toned image is transferred or transfused to a media carried by a toner image transfer belt located proximally to the intermediate transfer belt.

09-11-2008

20080240788

FOUR DRUM, EIGHT COLOR TANDEM XEROGRAPHIC ARCHITECTURE - A xerographic system and method use a tri-level development process in which at least one xerographic imaging unit includes a photoreceptor and a pair of developer units. A first developer unit includes a full strength toner of a given color and a second developer unit includes a reduced strength toner of the same or substantially the same color. By use of the tri-level process, excellent color-to-color registration can be achieved for each processed color separation. Moreover, by use of two strengths of the same colorant, a tighter control of the tone reproduction curve can be achieved. Additional xerographic imaging units can include a developer unit that provides spot color, custom color or specialty color capabilities. Additional benefits and gamut expansion can be achieved through use of a tandem architecture. A preferred implementation uses a four drum, eight color tandem architecture with full strength and reduced strength toners formulations of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black (CYMK) colorant.

10-02-2008

20080245979

Gloss and differential gloss measuring system - A system is provided for measuring gloss and spatial dependence of gloss. In a first embodiment, the system comprises: a first illuminator configured to emit a first light beam at a point on a target, thereby producing a generally specular reflectance in a first direction; a second illuminator configured to emit a second light beam at the point on the target, thereby producing generally diffuse reflectance in the first direction; a linear array sensor configured to detect the generally specular reflectance and the generally diffuse reflectance in the first direction; and a processor configured to process the generally specular reflectance and the generally diffuse reflectance detected by the linear array sensor. In a second embodiment, the system comprises: an illuminator configured to emit a beam of light at a point on a target, thereby producing a generally specular reflectance in a first direction and generally diffuse reflectance in a second direction; a first linear array sensor configured to detect the generally specular reflectance in the first direction; a second linear array sensor configured to detect the generally diffuse reflectance in the second direction; and a processor configured to process the generally specular reflectance detected by the first linear array sensor and the generally diffuse reflectance detected by the second linear array sensor.

10-09-2008

20090190965

ACTIVE IMAGE STATE CONTROL WITH DISTRIBUTED ACTUATORS AND SENSORS ON DEVELOPMENT ROLLS - Exemplary embodiments provide a roll member that includes one or more controllable cells and methods for making and using the roll member to control an image (or toner) state thereon. The controllable cells can be disposed on a roll substrate and configured in a manner that each controllable cell can be addressed individually and/or as groups. Each controllable cell can be addressable to provide a surface vibration to release toner particles adhered/attracted thereto and can also be capable of sensing the toner state of the roll member and thus to control the image or toner state. In an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed roll member can be used as a donor roll for a development system of an electrophotographic printing machine to create controlled and desired toner powder cloud for high quality image development.

07-30-2009

20090190966

ACTIVE IMAGE STATE CONTROL WITH LINEAR DISTRIBUTED ACTUATORS ON DEVELOPMENT ROLLS - Exemplary embodiments provide a roll member that includes one or more linear arrays of actuator cells and methods for making and using the roll member. In one embodiment, each linear array of the roll member can be controllably actuated as a group by, e.g., an oscillating voltage, to release toner particles adhered thereto and to form a uniform toner cloud in the development area between the roll member and an image receiving member. The controllable actuation can also aid in the unloading process of the residual toner particles from the roll member. In various embodiments, the uniform toner cloud and/or the controllable unloading process can enable a non-interactive development system for image-on-image full-color printing.

07-30-2009

20090196641

USE OF CUSTOMER DOCUMENTS FOR GLOSS MEASUREMENTS - An image printing system for adjusting gloss on printed documents includes a marking engine constructed to print images, which have gloss, on a document; a gloss measurement device, includes a linear array sensor to detect a generally specular and diffuse reflectance in the first direction produced by one or more illuminators; a processor configured to receive image data relating to a content of the image to be printed on the document; to process the detected generally specular and diffuse reflectances to determine a characteristic of the gloss of the document, and to compare the gloss characteristic with the image data relating to content of the image printed on the document; and a controller configured to control at least one process controls parameter of the marking engine based on the comparison of the gloss characteristic with the image content by the processor.

08-06-2009

20100053643

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRINTING - Aspects of the disclosure provide a printing method that can utilize a lightly pigmented toner along with a darkly pigmented toner to improve the image quality. The method can include receiving a dataset corresponding to a printing of a printing system using a darkly pigmented toner. The printing system may have an undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner. Further, the method can include converting the dataset to a first dataset corresponding to a first printing of the printing system using the darkly pigmented toner, and a second dataset corresponding to a second printing of the printing system using a lightly pigmented toner. The first dataset can avoid the undesirable optical density printing range for the darkly pigmented toner, and a combination of the first printing and the second printing providing a substantially same printed optical density corresponding to the received dataset.

03-04-2010

20100092215

PRINTING SYSTEM WITH TONER BLEND - An improved electrostatic printing method includes printing a first marking material, such as a fully colorized toner, and also printing a second marking material on the same area of the print substrate. The second marking material is a mixture of two toners, where at least one of the two toners has a lower color strength than the first marking material. The second marking material has the same hue as the first marking material, and the ratio of toners in the mixture is such that the second marking material has a color strength matching that of an undesirable optical density printing rage of the first marking material.

04-15-2010

20100285281

MICROSTRUCTURED IMAGE OVERCOAT LAYER FOR IMPROVED IMAGE UNIFORMITY APPLIED WITH BLANKET OVERCOATER AND FUNCTIONAL EMBOSSING ROLLER - In accordance with various embodiments, there are printing apparatuses and methods of enhancing an image quality on a media. The method of enhancing an image quality on a media can include providing an ink-based halftone image on a media, wherein the halftone image can include an amount of noise. The method can also include depositing a transparent overcoat layer at least over the halftone image, wherein the transparent overcoat layer can include a major amount of cross-linkable resin and a minor amount of a photoinitiator. The method can further include embossing the transparent overcoat layer to form an embossed micro-structured overcoat layer and curing the embossed micro-structured overcoat layer to form the micro-structured overcoat layer, such that the micro-structured overcoat layer reduces the amount of noise.

11-11-2010

20100310271

TWO-COLOR IOI DRUM MODULE ENABLING N-COLOR MONOCHROME, HIGHLIGHT, FULL COLOR, PHOTOTONE COLOR AND EXTENDED COLOR ARCHITECTURES - A xerographic marking device includes a media transport path and at least one two-color image-on-image (IOI) drum module. Each two-color IOI drum module includes in a process order around a photoreceptor: a) a first charging unit; b) a first exposure unit; c) a first development unit; d) a second charging unit; e) a second exposure unit; and f) a second development unit, wherein the intermediate transfer unit receives a first toned image and a second toned image from the photoreceptor in a single transfer and transfers those toner images to print media to produce a toned image on print media. In various embodiments, the xerographic marking device is modular and includes a common paper transport module having a cavity and a marking engine sized to fit within the cavity.

12-09-2010

20100310272

TWO-COLOR IOI DRUM MODULE ENABLING N-COLOR MONOCHROME, HIGHLIGHT, FULL COLOR, PHOTOTONE COLOR AND EXTENDED COLOR ARCHITECTURES - A xerographic marking device includes an intermediate transfer unit, a media transport path and at least one two-color image-on-image (IOI) drum module. Each two-color IOI drum module includes in a process order around a photoreceptor; a) a first charging unit; b) a first exposure unit; c) a first development unit; d) a second charging unit; e) a second exposure unit; and f) a second development unit, wherein the intermediate transfer unit receives a first toned image and a second toned image from the photoreceptor in a single transfer and transfers those toner images to print media to produce a toned image on print media. In various embodiments, specific color pairings are provided.

12-09-2010

20120008996

COLD PRESSURE TRANSFIX IN A SIMPLIFIED PRINTER - A system to combine the transfer and fixing xerographic steps of a xerographic printer into one, as well as to eliminate the need for an electrical field for transfer. The image is transfixed directly from a photoconductor to the paper or other suitable substrate. Appropriate pressure is applied during this step to cold-pressure fix the toner on the paper, taking into account the type of substrate and type of toner. The cold pressure transfix can be done either directly from a photoreceptor, without an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), eliminating all electrostatic transfer subsystems and a fusing operation. Alternatively, for engines with an intermediate transfer belt (ITB), the cold pressure transfix could replace a needed second transfer and fuser system.

01-12-2012

20120039642

MULTI-STAGE FIXING SYSTEMS, PRINTING APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO SUBSTRATES - Multi-stage fixing systems for fixing toner to a substrate, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the multi-stage fixing systems includes a softening device for softening toner applied to a substrate by a marking device; and a fixing device for fixing the softened toner to the substrate. The fixing device includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a first thermal energy source for actively heating the first surface; and a second fixing member including a second surface, the first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip at which the substrate with softened toner is received. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply heat and pressure to the substrate and softened toner received at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate.

02-16-2012

20120039643

FIXING SYSTEMS INCLUDING IMAGE CONDITIONER AND IMAGE PRE-HEATER AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO SUBSTRATES - Fixing systems, printing apparatuses and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing systems includes a pre-heating device for pre-heating a substrate and marking material disposed on a surface of the substrate; a fixing device disposed downstream from the pre-heating device, the fixing device including fixing members which oppose each other and form a fixing nip; and a first thermal energy source for heating at least one of the fixing members; wherein the fixing members apply pressure and thermal energy to the pre-heated substrate and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the toner to the substrate; and a conditioning device positioned (a) upstream from the pre-heating device, (b) between the pre-heating device and the fixing device, or (c) downstream from the fixing device. The conditioning device includes conditioning members which oppose each other and form a conditioning nip. The conditioning device does not include a thermal energy source that actively heats the conditioning members.

02-16-2012

20120039646

FIXING DEVICES FOR FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO A WEB WITH CONTACT PRE-HEATING OF WEB AND MARKING MATERIAL AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO A WEB - Fixing devices for fixing marking material to a web, printing apparatuses and methods of fixing marking material to a web are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices includes a first roll including a heated outer surface; a second roll forming a fixing nip with the outer surface of the first roll at which a continuous web on which marking material is disposed is received; a third roll positioned to contact the web prior to entering the fixing nip; and an adjustment mechanism connected to the third roll. The adjustment mechanism is operable to move the third roll to vary a wrap length of the web contacting the outer surface of the first roll upstream from the fixing nip to control pre-heating of the web and marking material by contact with the outer surface prior to entering the fixing nip. The first roll and second roll are operable to apply heat and pressure to the pre-heated web and marking material at the fixing nip to fix the marking material to the web.

02-16-2012

20120039647

FIXING DEVICES INCLUDING EXTENDED-LIFE COMPONENTS AND METHODS OF FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO SUBSTRATES - Fixing devices including extended-life components and methods of fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing devices for fixing toner to a substrate in printing includes a first fixing member including a first surface; a thermal energy source for heating the first surface of the first fixing member to a fixing temperature; and a second fixing member including a second surface. The first surface and the second surface form a fixing nip configured to receive a substrate including a surface and marking material comprising toner disposed on the surface. The first fixing member and the second fixing member are operable to apply a pressure of at least about 300 psi to the substrate and toner and to heat the toner to a sufficiently-high temperature, at the fixing nip, to fix the toner to the substrate.

02-16-2012

20120039648

LOW ADHESION COATINGS FOR IMAGE FIXING - Various embodiments provide low adhesion coatings that can be used for an image-side member in an image fixing system of an electrophotographic printer or an ink jet printer, wherein the low adhesion coatings can exhibit a low sliding angle ranging from about 1° to about 30° with a solid ink, a toner, hexadecane and/or water.

02-16-2012

20120039649

FIXING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR PRINTING - Fixing systems apply at a fixing nip low or ambient temperatures and moderate pressures or relatively high pressures to a substrate on which marking material is deposited. Fixing systems are integrated with a base print engine of a printing system, or added inline as a module to a printing system. Fixing systems and printing systems containing fixing devices and systems, including multi-stage fixing systems accommodate a broad range of substrates.

02-16-2012

20120040286

FIXING SYSTEMS INCLUDING CONTACT PRE-HEATER AND METHODS FOR FIXING MARKING MATERIAL TO SUBSTRATES - Fixing systems and methods for fixing marking material to a substrate are provided. An exemplary embodiment of the fixing systems includes a pre-heating device including: a first fixing member including a first surface; a second fixing member including a second surface forming a first nip with the first surface; and a first thermal energy source for heating at least one of the first surface and the second surface; wherein the first surface and the second surface contact and pre-heat a substrate and marking material comprising toner disposed on a surface of the substrate when the substrate is received at the first nip to produce the temperature condition: T